Contagious

Contagious. Even the word sounds deadly. COVID. Bird flu, Mumps, Chicken Pox, and tick-borne illnesses dominate the news.  Coming into contact with contagion isn’t a good thing. Even so, nearly every Christian wants to be part of a contagious church. I believe that the people of SHCC want to be characterized as people of infectious faith. You want a church that constantly experiences the joy of seeing others give their lives to Christ.

            The question: How do we become contagious in faith? There is no way that an inwardly focused church can fulfill the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20). 

            We must make a personal decision to live boldly for Christ. A church isn’t contagious without contagious Christians. This is especially a necessity for church leaders. Leaders set the standard and model outreach to the rest of the church.

            Contagious Christianity isn’t chasing after the latest outreach program. Contagious Christianity is the result of chasing after God. I’ll list four practical ways that you can start the process.

            1. Repent. Is the greatest sin in non-evangelism self-centeredness? Sometimes we think that our faith and our church are all about us, instead of them. Have we forgotten that the primary reason God called us is to enlarge His family? If so, we need to go to God and ask Him to forgive us, and to give us His heart for the lost.  Do you ache to see the lost come to Christ? (Mt 18:11).

            2. Read. You can’t grasp the heart and mind of Christ without allowing the Word to “dwell in you richly” (Col.3:16). Beyond reading, it is important to meditate on specific passages that increase our evangelistic zeal. John 3 and 4 should motivate you. Jesus models what it is like to reach out to the lost. How much time have you spent meditating on God’s Word, lately?

            3. Relate. Spend as much time as you can with contagious Christians. Who elevates your evangelistic temperature? Let that person’s passion infect you! (Acts 4:13). Is there someone you need to spend some time with? And please, don’t be absent from worship unless you absolutely have to. We miss you, and our church is less contagious without you (Heb 10:25).     

            4.  Reach. Reach out to those non-Christian around you. Being a contagious Christian requires that you take some relational risks. Get close to people who don’t know Christ. Reaching out to them matures your heart for evangelism and gives them the opportunity to know Christ. Is there someone God is asking you to spend time with, today?

            I urge you act upon these suggestions over the course of the next month. I am confident that God will bless your efforts. He has chosen to let the world know His love through you. As you become a contagious Christian, we will be that much closer to building a contagious church.

I will be teaching on Evangelism beginning next Wednesday at 11 am, and 7 pm, at the church, Please join us at the time most convenient for you.